AS a group of promising boxers prepare for the latest Golden Gloves tournament, a Walloon-based coach remains focused on helping country youth.
Robbie Sbeghen has been training young boxers for 17 years. He grew up in Rosewood before pursuing a fighting career in Brisbane from age 21.
The orthodox (right-handed) boxer had 26 amateur bouts and 20 professional fights in the lightweight division after working with acclaimed Rosewood mentors Arthur Clarke and Jimmy Simpson.
Now the level 3 coach’s goal is encouraging other youngsters to improve their skills, discipline and self-belief in and out of the boxing ring.
“It’s seeing the kids develop and nurture and become a teenager and then an adult and holding their heads up high and achieving something in life,” Sbeghen said.
“When they leave school, they actually get jobs and they can hold jobs.
“They are confident and they speak a lot better and have [better] manners.
“They are not shy and get a good boost in life.
“And the kids learn how to defend themselves.”
A number of club boxers are preparing to contest the Golden Gloves tournament from August 24-27 in Brisbane. They include last year’s national junior champion Levai Savuro (60kg division), Lachlan Ward (welterweight), Azaias Oui-Nona (68kg) and exciting 13-year-old prospect Max Cuthel (32kg).
Savuro learnt a valuable lesson just missing the weight at the latest national titles in Adelaide where he was considered a leading prospect.
However, Sbeghen is backing the defending Golden Gloves champion to rebound strongly.
Other previous Rebels Boxing Club members to have won Golden Glove titles include Chris Bourke (2016, 2018 and 2019), Jesse Jenner (2017 and 2018), Kayne Tate (2018), Chase Townsend (2016), and 2007 winners Mick Chong and Salesi Kaitu.
Other upcoming events for Rebels club boxers include the SEQ Championships at the Gold Coast on September 23 and the First Nations Boxing Championships in Brisbane on November 11.
Sbeghen said working with talented teenagers was rewarding, especially when they first learn to box around age 13.
“As they are younger, they get a chance to develop easier,” he said.
The Rebels club owner likes to see boxers enter competitions within six to seven months if they are progressing well.
He said his boxers compete under strict Olympic committee guidelines including wearing headgear and mouthguards.
From age 15, their gloves are checked and the boxers are closely monitored.
He said Walloon, Rosewood and surrounding areas provided a strong nursery.
“It has a country feel about it and the kids are relaxed and they are easy to get along with,” he said.
“There’s no iPhones or TikTok phones. They come in and train and all get along.”
Sbeghen, a plant operator with a construction company, retired from competitive boxing in 2003.
He was a state-level high jumper and long jumper at school before discovering boxing through his grandparents who lived near the Rosewood RSL.
The coach runs his boxing training from a Walloon backyard shed which has a ring, 12 bags and four speed balls.
He usually works with between a dozen and 20 boxers during the week.
Sbeghen also organises regular sparring sessions with the Warriors club at Springfield and the boxers attend training camps.
The Rebels club hosts annual championships at the Ipswich Showgrounds.